Light-emitting module and image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position

ABSTRACT

A light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position includes a PCB unit, a light-emitting unit, an outer shell unit and a light-guiding unit. The light-emitting unit has at least one light-emitting element electrically disposed on the PCB unit. The outer shell unit is disposed above the PCB unit and the light-emitting unit, and the outer shell unit has at least one opening. The light-guiding unit is close to the at least one light-emitting element. One partial area of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the at least one opening, so that light beams generated by the at least one light-emitting element are guided by the light-guiding unit and are projected out from the at least one opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a light-emitting module and an image-capturing module, in particular, to a light-emitting module and an image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position.

2. Description of Related Art

A computer system is composed of hardware and software. The hardware typically includes a motherboard, an optical disk drive, a hard disk drive, a memory, a network card, and so on. When the computer system is running, it is necessary to know working states of the hardware. Thus, indicator lamps are used to show the working states of the hardware, and corresponding drive circuits for driving these indicator lamps are combined in the computer system. In addition, an indicator lamp can be applied to an image-capturing module in order to monitor the usage state of the image-capturing module. Most indicator lamps are designed as light emitting diodes (LEDs).

However, the LEDs require an opening of an outer shell in order to be seen by the user, and the position of the opening must match the position of the LED on the computer body or the body of the image capturing module. Thus, different outer shells need to be designed to accommodate different positions of the LEDs on different computer models or image capturing models, even if the different models have the same outer shape. This inevitably leads to increased manufacturing costs for the final product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned issues, the present invention provides a light-emitting module and an image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position. The present invention can achieve signal indication effect without changing the position of the light-emitting element and the position of the opening of outer shell.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit, a light-emitting unit, an outer shell unit and a light-guiding unit. The light-emitting unit has at least one light-emitting element electrically disposed on the PCB unit. The outer shell unit is disposed above the PCB unit and the light-emitting unit, and the outer shell unit has at least one opening. The light-guiding unit is close to the at least one light-emitting element. One partial area of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the at least one opening, so that light beams generated by the at least one light-emitting element are guided by the light-guiding unit and are projected out from the at least one opening.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides an image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit, an image-capturing unit, a light-emitting unit, an outer shell unit and a light-guiding unit. The image-capturing unit is electrically disposed on the PCB unit. The light-emitting unit is disposed beside the image-capturing unit, and the light-emitting unit has at least one light-emitting element electrically disposed on the PCB unit. The outer shell unit is disposed above the PCB unit and the light-emitting unit, and the outer shell unit has at least one first opening for exposing the image-capturing unit and at least one second opening beside the at least one first opening. The light-guiding unit is close to the at least one light-emitting element. One partial area of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the at least one second opening, so that light beams generated by the at least one light-emitting element are guided by the light-guiding unit and are projected out from the at least one second opening.

Therefore, the light-guiding unit is mated with the opening of the outer shell unit, so that the present invention can achieve signal indication effect without changing the position of the light-emitting element and the position of the opening of outer shell unit. In other words, the light-emitting position can be arbitrarily changed according to the design position of the opening of the outer shell unit.

In order to further understand the techniques, means and effects the present invention takes for achieving the prescribed objectives, the following detailed descriptions and append portioned drawings are hereby referred, such that, through which, the purposes, features and aspects of the present invention can be thoroughly and concretely appreciated; however, the append portioned drawings are merely provided for reference and illustration, without any intention to be used for limiting the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a lateral, cross-sectional, schematic view of the light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a top, schematic view of the light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a lateral, cross-sectional, schematic view of the light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a top, schematic view of the light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a lateral, cross-sectional, schematic view of the light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a top, schematic view of the light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a lateral, cross-sectional, schematic view of the image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a top, schematic view of the image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a lateral, cross-sectional, schematic view of the image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a top, schematic view of the image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a lateral, cross-sectional, schematic view of the image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6B is a top, schematic view of the image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first embodiment of the present invention provides a light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) unit 1 a, a light-emitting unit 2 a, an outer shell unit 3 a and a light-guiding unit 4 a.

Moreover, the light-emitting unit 2 a has at least one light-emitting element 20 a electrically disposed on the PCB unit 1 a, and the light-emitting element 20 a can be an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or any element that can generate light. For example, if the light-emitting unit 2 a is applied to indicate power, the light-emitting element 20 a can be a signal indicator lamp for indicating usage state of power.

Furthermore, the outer shell unit 3 a is disposed above the PCB unit 1 a and the light-emitting unit 2 a, and the outer shell unit 3 a has at least one opening 30 a. For example, the outer shell unit 3 a can be a faceplate.

In addition, the light-guiding unit 4 a is close to the at least one light-emitting element 20 a. One partial area 40 a of the light-guiding unit 4 a is exposed by the at least one opening 30 a, so that light beams La generated by the at least one light-emitting element 20 a are guided by the light-guiding unit 4 a and are projected out from the at least one opening 30 a. For example, in the first embodiment, one end portion 41 a of the light-guiding unit 4 a is close to the light-emitting element 20 a, and other end portion 42 a of the light-guiding unit 4 a is close to the opening 30 a and is exposed by the opening 30 a.

Moreover, the light-guiding unit 4 a can be a light guide film, a light guide post, a light guide pipe, a light guide plate, a light guide ink, optic fibers, a prism or any element that can guide light beams to move or change position according to different requirement. In addition, the light-guiding unit 4 a can be a plastic plate or a glass plate according to different material design.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the second embodiment of the present invention provides a light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit 1 b, a light-emitting unit 2 b, an outer shell unit 3 b and a light-guiding unit 4 b. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that: in the second embodiment, one partial area of one end portion 41 b of the light-guiding unit 4 b is close to the light-emitting element 20 b, and one partial area 40 b of a top surface of the light-guiding unit 4 b is exposed by the opening 30 b. Hence, light beams Lb generated by the at least one light-emitting element 20 b are guided by the light-guiding unit 4 b and are projected out from the at least one opening 30 b.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the third embodiment of the present invention provides a light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit 1 c, a light-emitting unit 2 c, an outer shell unit 3 c and a light-guiding unit 4 c. The difference between the third embodiment and the first and the second embodiments is that: in the third embodiment, the light-guiding unit 4 c has a shading layer 5 c disposed on a top surface thereof, and the shading layer 5 c has at least one light-exiting hole 50 c corresponding to the at least one opening 30 c. In addition, one partial area of one end portion 41 c of the light-guiding unit 4 c is close to the light-emitting element 20 c, and one partial area 40 c of a top surface of the light-guiding unit 4 c is exposed by the opening 30 c and the light-exiting hole 50 c. Hence, light beams Lc generated by the at least one light-emitting element 20 c are guided by the light-guiding unit 4 c and are projected out from the light-exiting hole 50 c and the at least one opening 30 c.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fourth embodiment of the present invention provides an image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit 1 d, a light-emitting unit 2 d, an outer shell unit 3 d, a light-guiding unit 4 d and an image-capturing unit 6 d.

The image-capturing unit 6 d is electrically disposed on the PCB unit 1 d. The light-emitting unit 2 d is disposed beside the image-capturing unit 6 d, and the light-emitting unit 2 d has at least one light-emitting element 20 d electrically disposed on the PCB unit 1 d in order to indicate the usage state of the image-capturing unit 6 d. In addition, the outer shell unit 3 d is disposed above the PCB unit 1 d and the light-emitting unit 2 d, and the outer shell unit 3 d has at least one first opening 30 d for exposing the image-capturing unit 6 d and at least one second opening 31 d beside the at least one first opening 30 d.

Moreover, the light-guiding unit 4 d is close to the at least one light-emitting element 20 d. One partial area 40 d of the light-guiding unit 4 d is exposed by the at least one second opening 31 d, so that light beams Ld generated by the at least one light-emitting element 20 d are guided by the light-guiding unit 4 d and are projected out from the at least one second opening 31 d. In the fourth embodiment, one end portion 41 d of the light-guiding unit 4 d is close to the light-emitting element 20 d, and other end portion 42 d of the light-guiding unit 4 d is close to the second opening 31 d and is exposed by the second opening 31 d.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the fifth embodiment of the present invention provides an image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit 1 e, a light-emitting unit 2 e, an outer shell unit 3 e, a light-guiding unit 4 e and an image-capturing unit 6 e. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that: in the fifth embodiment, one partial area of one end portion 41 e of the light-guiding unit 4 e is close to the light-emitting element 20 e, and one partial area 40 e of a top surface of the light-guiding unit 4 e is exposed by the second opening 31 e. Hence, light beams Le generated by the at least one light-emitting element 20 e are guided by the light-guiding unit 4 e and are projected out from the at least one second opening 31 e.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the sixth embodiment of the present invention provides an image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, including: a PCB unit 1 f, a light-emitting unit 2 f, an outer shell unit 3 f, a light-guiding unit 4 f and an image-capturing unit 6 f. The difference between the sixth embodiment and the fourth and the fifth embodiments is that: in the sixth embodiment, the light-guiding unit 4 f has a shading layer 5 f disposed on a top surface thereof, and the shading layer 5 f has at least one light-exiting hole 50 f corresponding to the at least one second opening 31 f. In addition, one partial area of one end portion 41 f of the light-guiding unit 4 f is close to the light-emitting element 20 f, and one partial area 40 f of a top surface of the light-guiding unit 4 f is exposed by the second opening 31 f and the light-exiting hole 50 f. Hence, light beams Lf generated by the at least one light-emitting element 20 f are guided by the light-guiding unit 4 f and are projected out from the light-exiting hole 50 f and the at least one second opening 31 f.

In conclusion, the light-guiding unit is mated with the opening of the outer shell unit, so that the present invention can achieve signal indication effect without changing the position of the light-emitting element and the position of the opening of outer shell unit. In other words, the light-emitting position can be arbitrarily changed according to the design position of the opening of the outer shell unit.

The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the preferred embodiment of the present invention, without any intention to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. Various equivalent changes, alternations or modifications based on the claims of present invention are all consequently viewed as being embraced by the scope of the present invention. 

1. A light-emitting module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, comprising: a PCB unit; a light-emitting unit having at least one light-emitting element electrically disposed on the PCB unit; an outer shell unit disposed above the PCB unit and the light-emitting unit, wherein the outer shell unit has at least one opening; and a light-guiding unit being close to the at least one light-emitting element, wherein one partial area of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the at least one opening, so that light beams generated by the at least one light-emitting element are guided by the light-guiding unit and are projected out from the at least one opening.
 2. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element is an LED.
 3. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element is a signal indicator lamp.
 4. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell unit is a faceplate.
 5. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light-guiding unit is a light guide film, a light guide post, a light guide pipe, a light guide plate, a light guide ink, optic fibers or a prism.
 6. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the light-emitting element, and another end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the opening and is exposed by the opening.
 7. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein one partial area of one end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the light-emitting element, and one partial area of a top surface of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the opening.
 8. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light-guiding unit has a shading layer disposed on its top surface, and the shading layer has at least one light-exiting hole corresponding to the at least one opening.
 9. The light-emitting module according to claim 8, wherein one partial area of one end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the light-emitting element, and one partial area of a top surface of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the opening and the light-exiting hole.
 10. The light-emitting module according to claim 1, wherein the light-guiding unit is a plastic plate or a glass plate.
 11. An image-capturing module for arbitrarily changing light-emitting position, comprising: a PCB unit; an image-capturing unit electrically disposed on the PCB unit; a light-emitting unit disposed beside the image-capturing unit, wherein the light-emitting unit has at least one light-emitting element electrically disposed on the PCB unit; an outer shell unit disposed above the PCB unit and the light-emitting unit, wherein the outer shell unit has at least one first opening for exposing the image-capturing unit and at least one second opening beside the at least one first opening; and a light-guiding unit being close to the at least one light-emitting element, wherein one partial area of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the at least one second opening, so that light beams generated by the at least one light-emitting element are guided by the light-guiding unit and are projected out from the at least one second opening.
 12. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein the light-emitting element is an LED.
 13. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein the light-emitting element is a signal indicator lamp.
 14. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein the outer shell unit is a faceplate.
 15. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein the light-guiding unit is a light guide film, a light guide post, a light guide pipe, a light guide plate, a light guide ink, optic fibers or a prism.
 16. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein one end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the light-emitting element, and another end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the second opening and is exposed by the second opening.
 17. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein one partial area of one end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the light-emitting element, and one partial area of a top surface of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the second opening.
 18. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein the light-guiding unit has a shading layer disposed on its top surface, and the shading layer has at least one light-exiting hole corresponding to the at least one second opening.
 19. The image-capturing module according to claim 18, wherein one partial area of one end portion of the light-guiding unit is close to the light-emitting element, and one partial area of a top surface of the light-guiding unit is exposed by the second opening and the light-exiting hole.
 20. The image-capturing module according to claim 11, wherein the light-guiding unit is a plastic plate or a glass plate. 